Color and form. Light and shadow. These make the drama and sense of awe that I feel from the natural world around me. The wonder of the earth and all that grows from it is breath-taking to me, and I feel compelled to capture the intensity of color and the contrasts these wonders provide. The fruit of the earth, in whatever form, appears simple but is not. The work can be described as abstract realism. The presentation is simple and is usually abstract in composition, yet representational.

Flowers have a drama of their own. The abstract quality of the form creates a play of shapes and values that negate the need to be truly representational. But that remains for the viewer’s eye. The sharp contrasts, shadows and line contribute to the brightness and intensity of the work, even with a limited palette. The same characteristics can be seen in the still life paintings. These make use of objects that I find have inherent beauty, and colors and forms that play against each other to create what I hope is a feast for the eyes.

I use both water colors and acrylics. Acrylics allow me to vary the texture and the surface of the painting. The quick drying time makes it possible to see just where the work is going. I layer colors and use the opaque and transparent qualities of various pigments to create the vibrancy of the paintings. Gold, silver and copper leaf are sometimes incorporated for added interest and reflection of color and light.